Beauty Is More Than Skin Deep

“The chemical preservatives saving your beauty potions from the ravages of time have been linked with a whole host of health problems – from cancer to infertility and skin damage”

With chemicals in mainstream beauty products are linked to cancer, infertility and skin damage, Vashti Woman investigates if it’s a good idea for our make-up bags to go green.

Much as you wouldn’t eat a mouldy sandwich or tuck into rancid yogurt, if you opened your favourite face cream to discover it thick with green fungus, you’d probably think twice before rubbing it into your skin.

But the chemical preservatives saving your beauty potions from the ravages of time have been linked with a whole host of health problems – from cancer to infertility and skin damage – raising major concerns with millions of cosmetic consumers who were previously unaware of the health risks they pose. We get under the skin of the organic versus inorganic debate and ask, should we or shouldn’t we go green in our make-up bags?

THE PARABEN PROBLEM

Parabens are chemical preservatives designed to extend the life of everything from food to pharmaceuticals, and can be found in up to an estimated 90 per cent of beauty products on the market. Used to fight bacteria and fungus, it is parabens – the most common being methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben and butylparaben – that stop your cosmetics from going off after you’ve opened them, and keep them ‘fresh’ for anything up to three years.

Thanks to their low cost and significant abilities in extending a product’s shelf life, parabens have been intrinsic to the cosmetic and skincare industry for decades. But after a 2004 study linked the use of parabens to breast cancer, and further studies suggested they were a contributing factor to infertility and reproductive issues, birth and developmental defects and early-onset puberty, paraben use has become one of the most controversial topics in beauty, with many scientists considering them a danger to public health, whilst others believe them to be not only safe, but essential to the continued growth of a multi-billion global industry.

A report published in 2004 by The Journal of Applied Toxicology, sent shock waves around the world. It is claimed that parabens, which are found in everything from shampoos to sunscreen, enter the body through the skin and mimic the hormone oestrogen, which is known to play a role in the development of breast cancer. Furthermore, researchers found concentrations of these synthetic preservatives, particularly methylparaben, in human breast tumours, claiming that from their sample

of 20 cancerous tumours, 18 contained significant concentrations of parabens, with almost all of the tumours tested originating from products applied to the skin, like deodorant, creams or body sprays.

However, the validity of the study was questioned by the American Cancer Society, and the Food and Drug Administration and Cosmetic Ingredient Review found that every kind of ingestible paraben was not even close to being unsafe. Furthermore, skincare giants continue to support the use of parabens in their products, and believe them to be the only safe option in a marketplace that is being ‘forced’ to formulate without them.

BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY

While many scientific organisations consider the negative research concerning the safety of parabens to be inconclusive, cosmetic consumers are understandably more cautious about buying goods that contain any of these supposedly dangerous substances.

PEOPLE POWER

In response to the increased concern surrounding parabens, the beauty industry has been quick to respond. Organic and paraben-free products are one of the fastest-growing sectors in the beauty marketplace, with cosmetic companies abandoning artificial preservatives in favour of natural ones.

Natural preservatives like neem oil, sea salts and citric acids deliver excellent results. Reading labels and researching natural ingredients is well worth the time and effort. Eco-friendly and organic ranges provide the smartest, and safest alternative to chemical-heavy beauty products, and are now more readily available than ever before.

The jury may still be out on whether or not parabens are safe, but in the meantime, if you’d rather err on the side of caution, there are plenty of chemical-free cosmetics to keep you looking young and beautiful without breaking the bank.